A little bingo in the sixth gave the Mariners the lead. After reaching on a single to left, Ichiro took off for second. Chone Figgins hit a bounding ball through the vacated shortstop hole. That left the Mariners with runners on first and third. Figgins promptly stole second, his 30th swipe of the season, setting up two runners in scoring position.

Casey Kotchman was able to come through. His hard single up the middle easily scored both speedsters.

“Didn’t have a whole lot of opportunities, it comes down to timely hitting,” Wakamatsu said.

That gave Jason Vargas the lead, though he would not have a chance to hold it. He departed after throwing 90 pitches in six innings. He allowed just one run and four hits. The outing dropped his ERA to 3.12, which puts him in the top 10 in the American League. He said he used his fastball more often than usual on Sunday.

“He stays on the attack, keeps you off balance,” Kansas City manager Ned Yost said of Vargas. “He moves the ball in and out. I was really impressed.”

Vargas (8-5) continued to enjoy his surroundings in Safeco Field. He’s 7-2 with a 2.28 ERA at home. Vargas has already set career highs in starts, innings pitched, strikeouts and wins. His previous career high in innings was 91 2/3, coming last season with the Mariners. Vargas is at 138 2/3 this year with around nine starts remaining. The Mariners may get almost 200 well-pitched innings out of Vargas for $412,500 this year.

“Every week I just prepare myself to do the same thing,” Vargas said. “Physically, I feel fine.”

Another single from Figgins drove in Ichiro for a bonus and crucial run in the eighth.

Jamey Wright, Brandon League and David Aardsma kept the Royals down after Vargas’ departure. Aardsma allowed a solo home run to Alex Gordon in the ninth. It was the first run the closer has given up in his last nine outings, but he held on for his 20th save.

Oakland comes to town on Monday for a three-game series with the Mariners (42-70). Doug Fister (3-8, 3.98) faces Vin Mazzaro (6-3, 3.86) at 7:10 p.m. on Monday in Safeco.

“We’ve been playing a lot better baseball,” Vargas said.

Notes: Shortstop Jack Wilson fractured the fifth metacarpal in his right hand. He did it last night when he slipped in the bathroom and hit his hand on the floor. … Adam Moore was a late scratch with back stiffness on Sunday.